JK names 70 new DCs, drops 51

President Jakaya Kikwete has named 70 new district commissioners, among them six media practitioners, in a major shake-up that saw 51 former ones dropped and 63 re-appointed.

The PM gave the factors behind the dropping of the 51 as including having reached retirement age, poor health and “administrative reasons”.

“The screening process was very tough … Many factors were considered, among them gender, age and experience. It was not a joke,” he said, adding: “Owing to these factors and other considerations, you will find that youths constitute 40 per cent and women 30 per cent of the new line-up.

”Pinda said five of the new DCs were picked by virtue of their being Special Seats Members of Parliament, elaborating: “This is a new criterion we decided to use in the vetting process this time around.”